10/3/01--Boston College Law School Dean John H. Garvey was recently named to the newly-formed ABA Task Force on Terrorism and the Law, a group of experts who will offer counsel to United States political leaders regarding upcoming legislation relating to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Two other BCLaw Alumni, Richard Campbell of Campbell, Campbell & Edwards in Boston, and Michael S. Greco of Boston's Hill & Barlow, have also been appointed to the task force.

"We need to make sure the mechanisms exist that will permit prompt and effective investigation and prosecution of those responsible for these heinous acts, while at the same time ensuring we preserve the fundamental principles of our system of Constitutional law," said ABA president Robert E. Hirshon. "We need to address quickly as a nation difficult and complex issues involving electronic surveillance and wiretapping, computer encryption, immigration procedures, etc. As a country, we need to be ready for inconveniences, restrictions and possibly a loss of some liberties, experiences to which we are unaccustomed. There are sacrifices we will need to make because we must find and deal with the terrorists."

The ABA Task Force is comprised of leaders with expertise in law and national security, constitutional law, immigration law, civil rights, criminal justice, tort and insurance practice, business law, and science and technology. Robert Clifford, chair of the ABA Section of Litigation, will head the task force. Other members include Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, general counsel of the University of Wisconsin and former general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency; John S. Cooke, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law; and Harold Barron, general counsel to UNISYS.

The task force will examine law-related policy issues implicated in the terrorist attacks, assess existing association policy on these issues, determine what revisions are needed or additional areas should be addressed, and bring policy recommendations to the ABA board of governors for its consideration.